Lace Up

Update: This post has been updated on November 10, 2017. Scroll down to see the new add.

Now that Christmas is only 2 days away I know you’re probably super busy shopping for last minute gifts (guilty as charged!), wrapping presents and finalizing your Christmas menu, but there’s always some time to appreciate a beautiful shoe, right? This red suede fringed block-heel beauty by Aquazzura might look familiar as we’ve featured its 4″ stiletto heel sibling in a previous Real vs. Steal post. But as much as we love a sky-high stiletto high-heel shoe, even the comfiest of them still isn’t comfy. Wearing high heels is painful, often exhausting, sometimes even downright dangerous (hello, cobblestone pavement!), so I’m super happy to see mid-heeled block-heels taking the wheel in the footwear trend scene right now. Because happy feet = happy me! And these Aquazzura sandals are a prime example that show that block-heeled shoes can look just as sexy and beautiful as their high-heeled counterparts. Too bad these beauties cost a whopping $785 though! Luckily, we’ve found a few budget-friendly alternatives that will give you the designer look for a fraction of the price.

Adrienne Vittadini Allen Lace-Up Sandals

Update (11/10/2017): Now look at these fantastic Aquazzura dupes by Adrienne Vittadini! Aren’t they just fabulous? And so spot-on, too! Available in various colors like pink, black and navy suede and currently on sale at Amazon. Love!

Sole Society Sera Fringe Strap Heeled Sandals

Update (04/03/2017): Spotted these amazingly similar fringe block heel sandals at Sole Society which look just like the real deal, but cost only a fraction of the price. Available for $89.95 in red, taupe or blue suede.

JustFab Jean Fringe Block Heeled Sandals

Update (04/03/2017): Also discovered these budget-friendly Aquazzura Wild Thing City dupes at JustFab. They come in 4 colors (taupe, red, black and yellow) and can be yours for as low as $9.99 (first item purchase for JustFab members). Stea deal alert!

BP. Karla Block Heel Ankle Wrap Sandals

Update (04/03/2017): Another great Aquazzura alternative are these block heel sandals by BP. which are made of genuine leather and retail for $59.95. They miss the fringe detail on the front strap, but the overall design is still quite similar to the designer version above. Available in blush, blue and black suede.

Athena Alexander Saige Fringed Ankle Wrap Sandals

May I introduce you to “Saige” by Athena Alexander? A gorgeous and spot-on Aquazurra Wild Thing City dupe available in either red, grey or black faux suede for $97.95. No need to spend $800 if you can have the exact same designer look for under $100, right?

Kaitlyn Pan Fringed Suede Lace-Up Tassel Block Heel Sandals

My favorite Aquazzura Wild Thing alternative however is this one by Kaitlyn Pan. Why? Well, first off: it’s just as spot-on as the Athena Alexander version, but it is made of genuine suede and also costs $13 less ($84.99). Plus, the available colors (red, blue = my fave, tan and black) are absolutely gorgeous, too.

Update: This post has been updated on November 8, 2017. Scroll down to see the new adds.

So I’m sure a lot of you will absolutely hate Stella McCartney‘s “Britt” flatforms. Not only because of their polarizing design, but also because Stella McCartney doesn’t use animal originated materials for her line yet still charges a whopping $995 for these faux leather brogues. However, I’m also quite positively sure that just as many will loooove Stella McCartney for the very same reasons. While I personally can’t picture myself rocking these babies, I do somehow see its androgynous appeal to others – viewed through the man repelling lens, of course. But the price though? Still a total turn-off!

J. Adams Elevate Platform Lace Up Oxford Shoes

Update (10/05/2017): Spotted even more budget-friendly Stella McCartney inspired platform oxfords. Check out these cool lace-up shoes by J. Adams which are less than $40 and come in various colors and variations.

H&M Platform Shoes

Qupid Prado-01 Lace-Up Platform Wedge Oxford Shoes

Update (09/05/2017): Found more Stella McCartney platform dupes! How cool are these metallic platforms by Qupid which look so much like the real deal but cost less than $30? Awesome! Available in silver, gold and bronze faux leather.

Sol Sana Megan Lace-Up Wedge Platform Oxfords

Update (07/14/2016): Please check out these absolutely spot-on Stella McCartney dupes by Sol Sana! Aren’t they just gorgeous? I’ve been a little obsessed with these and feel really tempted to buy them, but their price tag of €209.95 is kind of killing my budget. Boohoo!

Chase & Chloe Tylor-1 Lace-Up Platform Oxfords

Update (03/24/2016): OMGALERT! Look what I just discovered! Spot-on Stella McCartney Britt/Elyse dupes by Chase & Chloe for under $40! AH-mazing! Available in various colors and uppers including black or nude faux patent leather. You better get these ASAP as I’m sure these babies will sell out in no time!

JY Shoes Genuine Leather Wedge Oxfords

Update (12/23/2015): I also spotted these amazing, spot-on genuine leather Stella McCartney Elyse/Britt dupes by JY Shoes a few days ago. They’re not exactly cheap at $90.11, but could be worth the investment if you really like the style and want a high-quality look-alike.

Jeffrey Campbell Berliner Lace-Up Platform Oxfords

Enter Jeffrey Campbell. Crazy shoe designs have always been a part of the brand’s aesthetical vision, so I wasn’t the least surprised to find this Stella McCartney “Britt” dupe in JC’s repertoire. As usual, Jeffrey Campbell’s prices aren’t the easiest on a middle-class woman’s budget, but the design is spot-on and they’re still more than $800 cheaper than the pricey originals.

Dabagirl Contrast Platform-Heel Oxfords

If you’re looking for something less expensive, you might wan to consider these oxford lace-up platforms by Dabagirl instead which are selling for $74.61 (sale price!). The design is very similar to Stella McCartney’s “Britt”, plus they’re also made of faux leather (if this is an important aspect for you). Available in black and nude.

For someone who has always loved the delicacy of high heels and feminine silhouettes when it comes to shoes, lately I’ve been finding myself strangely gravitating more and more to tougher, more masculine footwear for some reason. So much so that I recently decided to take the plunge and went on to buy my very first pair of black, Doc Martens-like lace-up combat boots a few weeks ago and I’ve been obsessed with them ever since! I wear them with black skinny jeans, ripped denim, a flowy knit dress, a cute A-line skirt, you name it; everything seems to kind of work with these boots that will toughen up any look in an instant with their rough and functional design. And if you’ve been following this blog for a while, you’ll know I have a soft spot for everything Alexander McQueen. So how could I not love these super badass silver studded metal cap-toe boots? They’re definitely not for the faint of heart and certainly won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but I guess this is one of the main reasons I find myself so drawn to them! These heavy boots look like they could easily be part of a funky steampunk cosplay costume. But in a good way! Now that we’ve established the fabulousness of these boots – have you seen that price tag? $1.995! One grand per foot! Sadly, this kind of pricing doesn’t exactly fall into my personal shoe shopping bracket.

Jeffrey Campbell “Gustine” Studded Cap-Toe Boots

Jeffrey Campbell to the rescue! Now look at these stud-adorned combat lace-up boots here! Aren’t they just so crazy cool? I love the oversized buckles! They’re not identical dupes of the McQueen boots above, but certainly similar enough to double as a great, look for less designer alternative if you can’t afford or simply don’t want to spend 2k on a pair of boots. These darling here might not be a steal at $179.95, but they are over 90% cheaper than the real deal which – I would say – you could consider a steal deal in comparison! Some sizes are already sold out though, so you better be fast if you want to get ahold of these stylish studded biker boots!

Update: This post has been updated on August 30, 2017. Scroll down to see the new adds.

Does this sound familiar? You see something and are really turned off by it first, but then, the more you look at it, the more it grows on you until you become obsessed with it? That happens to me quite often I must admit. In almost every case it’s a shoe which I first hate, then like and finally LOVE! The last time this happened to me was with these lace-up ankle boots by Ann Demeulemeester.

When I first saw them, I thought they were way too clunky for a woman’s feet. But I couldn’t help but be fascinated by them, so I decided to give them another chance and googled them. Sometimes, in order to be able to see a shoe’s full potential, you have to see it on a person’s feet. That was definitely the case with the Ann Demeulemeester lace-up boots. The moment I saw the models flaunting them in a mini dress, I was irrevocably in LOVE!

I couldn’t find any celebrities rocking these beauties, but fashion editors and style bloggers like Jane of Sea of Shoes happen to love them as much as me.

Chinese Laundry “Beckie” Lace-Up Peep-Toe Booties

Update (08/30/2017): Check out these lovely lace up heels by Chinese Laundry! They’d also be a great and budget-friendly alternative to the pricey Ann D designer boot version above. On sale for $55.99 and available in black, tan and silver metallic. Steal deal alert!

Yoki “Brie” Lace-Up Open-Toe Booties

Kendall + Kylie “Ginny” Lace Up Open Toe Booties

Update (01/29/2016): And if you’ve ever hoped to find a stiletto version of the Ann Demeulemeester booties, check out these fab new lace-up boots by Kendall + Kylie which are available in black and grey taupe suede for $143.28 (sale price!).

Breckelle’s Tina-15 Open-Toe Lace-Up Booties

Update (11/19/2015): Discovered this fab and super budget-friendly Ann Demeulemeester dupes by Breckelle’s today! They’re available in black, white, beige and tan faux leather and can be yours for a little over $30! Steal deal alert!

Mollini “Jofan” Open-Toe Lace-Up Ankle Boots

Update (08/14/2015): Well, hello there best Ann Demeulemeester dupes EVER! Seriously, just how awesome and spot-on are these open-toe lace-up boots by Mollini?! I love ’em! They’re not cheap, but so close to the real deal. Available in either black, tan or cream white.

Tony Bianco “Kinston” Peep-Toe Lace-Up Boots

Update (08/07/2015): I don’t think I’ve been so excited about finding an Ann Demeulemeester dupe since JC’s Corset Heels in 2009. Now isn’t the “Kinston” by Tony Bianco an awesome alternative to the real Ann D. boots above or what? So spot-on! I love this one!

Forever 21 Lace-Up Peep-Toe Booties

Update (06/27/2015): RESTOCK ALERT! Now look at these lovely lace-up booties booties which have finally been restocked at Forever 21 just recently. So cool, right? They totally reminded me of the Ann Demeulemeester booties above. They’re available in either black, brown or olive (my personal fave!). But better be fast this time, these shoes are flying off the shelves!

Pink Inc “Tide” Peep-Toe Lace-Up Booties

Update (05/22/2015): Now look at these fabulous Ann D. inspired Pink Inc lace-up booties! Love, love, love! I’m usually not a big fan of white shoes, but these white booties here are kinda hot! Available in white and black leather and black suede for $119.95 AUD.

Elizabeth and James “Terri” Lace-Up Ankle Boots

Update (09/18/2013): I know these Elizabeth and James boots aren’t a perfect dupe match and at $475 not exactly budget-friendly, but if you’re looking for an Ann D. inspired closed-toe version these here are probably your best bet at the moment.

Jeffrey Campbell Corset Heels

Update (10/05/2009): More good news! Free People have finally restocked Jeffrey Campbell’s Ann Deumeulemeester knockoffs. Missed out on these the first time? Now is your chance to get hold of these cuties!

Sometimes I think everything Jeffrey Campbell does these days is copying other people’s work. Well, it may be unethical, but at least it allows us budget fashionistas to be fashionable without the hefty price tag. Look at these beautiful, almost identical knockoffs. Pretty amazing, huh? They sure are shamelessly expensive for knockoffs, but even priced at $198 they are about $700 les than the originals, so they can’t be TOO bad, right? All sizes are still available, but you better be fast as these knockoffs won’t stay for too long (they’re also exclusively sold at Free People, so if they are gone there, you won’t find them anywhere else).

Update: This post has been updated on July 5, 2017. Scroll down to see the new adds.

If there’s one thing Stuart Weitzman is exceptionally good at, it’s boots, especially the sexy kind. A few years ago, we had celebs and bloggers going crazy for the widely copied 50/50 OTK boots and now the fashion crowd is lusting after the “Highland”, a super sexy over-the-knee suede pull-on boot which has a lacing detail in the back. And even though I feel like I’ve seen this boot on pretty much every stylish celebrity and fashion blogger by now, I’m still not fed up with it in the slightest way. I also can’t seem to pick a favorite color! The taupe version is so cool and subdued while the black version really pops against bare legs and turns up the sexiness factor by quite a few notches! But as gorgeous as these suede thigh high boots are, at $798 (now on sale for 40% off: $558.60) these beauties are way too expensive for me to splurge on the real deal!

Express Thigh High Stretch Boots

Update (07/05/2017): I know shopping for overknee boots in the middle of the summer is probably the last thing on your mind right now, but I happened to stumble upon these super cute “Highland” look-alike OTK boots at Express and just couldn’t help myself. On sale in taupe or black faux leather for $58.80!

Yoki Daisy Over-The-Knee Boots

Update (01/25/2017): Haven’t found your perfect pair of OTK boots yet? Well, here’s one more Highland dupe to consider! It’s by Yoki, comes in either burgundy or grey faux suede and it’s currently on sale for just $17.99!

Catherine by Catherine Malandrino Verda Over-The-Knee Boots

Update (01/25/2017): Also stumbled upon a second set of Highland dupes by Catherine by Catherine Malandrino. These fab OTK boots are currently on sale for a very budget-friendly $54.97 and are available in 6 colors: black, burgundy, navy, taupe, grey and nude. Steal deal alert! Pssst, if you have thicker thighs, you might want to check out “Sorcha“, also by Catherine Malandrino: same price, but the shaft’s opening circumference is bigger.

Call It Spring Qeiven Over-The-Knee Faux Suede Boots

Update (11/16/2016): And here we have yet another Stuart Weitzman Highland look-alike to add to the long list of dupes. This one’s by Call It Spring, it comes in 3 different colors and retails for $99.99.

Unisa Saranaa Heeled Faux Suede Over-The-Knee Boots

Update (10/24/2016): There’s no slowing down of new Stuart Weitzman OTK boot dupes! And here’s yet another fabulous and budget-friendly Highland boot look-alike which I have just discovered. It’s by Unisa, made of faux suede and costs only 59.98 (sale price)! All sizes are still in stock, so hurry before these go out of stock, and trust me, these will go fast!

Charles by Charles David Sycamore Heeled Over-The-Knee Boots

Update (10/24/2016): I also stumbled upon these great SW Highland alternatives by Charles by Charles David which are currently on sale for $54.82 at Amazon and come in either black, grey or merlot microsuede.

Dorothy Perkins Kassandra Faux Suede Over-The-Knee Boots

Update (10/24/2016): Similar to the Guess version above are these OTK boots by Dorothy Perkins. They’re available in black, taupe, grey, burgundy and black velvet for $89. I really like the sturdy heel on these which makes it easier to wear these heeled boots for a longer period of time.

Sam Edelman Kent Heeled Suede Over-The-Knee Boots

Update (08/28/2016): Just spotted these amazing and spot-on SW Highland OTK boot dupes by Sam Edelman. They’re admittedly a tad pricey at $190 (now on sale for $86.57), but you do get a genuine OTK suede boot here, so it might be well worth the splurge.

Ivanka Trump “Kellyn” Over-The-Knee Boots

Update (08/28/2016): And if you love the idea of a heeled OTK boot, but you can’t manage walking on 4 inches all day, with its sturdy 2 1/2 inch block heel Ivanka Trump‘s “Kellyn” is the perfect hybrid between Weitzman’s “Highland” and “Lowland” boot. Available in 3 different colors for $134.25.

Buffalo Heeled Over the Knee Boots

Update (08/03/2016): Also found a great Highland look-alike option for all the European based Stuart Weitzman lovers. Check out these fab OTK boots by Buffalo. So gorgeous, right? And not too expensive at €159.95!

Schuh “Misty” Faux Suede Over-The-Knee Boots

Update (03/11/2016): Also discovered these fabulous Weitzman alternatives at Schuh which are currently on sale for under £50 (down from £75). Available in grey or black faux suede. Couldn’t pass up on this deal myself and ordered both colors immediately!

Jean-Michel Cazabat OTK Stretch Suede Boots

Update (01/09/2016): Spotted another fabulous though super expensive dupe of this season’s most wanted boots! They’re by Jean-Michel Cazabat and currently on final sale for $599. The perfect alternative if you want a high quality SW Highland alternative, but you feel like saving $200 along the way.

ASOS Key To My Heart Lace Up Over the Knee Boots

Update (01/09/2016): Discovered these awesome faux suede Weitzman Highland look-alike boots at ASOS today. Too bad I spotted them so late, because they’re out of stock in almost all sizes. Apparently however, they do come back in stock in limited quantities occasionally, so a little cyberstalking migh help here. The taupe version is available here, but it’s currently pretty much sold out as well.

Ark “Laci” Suedette Thigh High Boots

Update (01/09/2016): And here we have another spot-on and budget-friendly faux leather boot alternative for all the European Stuart Weitzman Highland fans out there! Found these Ark dupes which retail for £45. I just added these to my shopping watch list!

Steve Madden “Gorgeous” Over-The-Knee Heeled Pull-On Boots

Of course, where there’s a trend, Steve Madden can’t be too far behind. Their “Gorgeous” OTK boots, available in either grey or black, look just like the Stuart Weitzman Highlands but cost only $99.95 instead of $798! Score! Love this steal deal!

Public Desire “Janine” Over the Knee Faux Suede Boots

While browsing the Public Desire website, I happened to discover these steal-worthy, faux suede SW Highland dupes for under £40. Worldwide shipping is available. Students get a 10% discount on their order.

Kaitlyn Pan Over-The-Knee Boots

I also spotted these fabulous OTK boots by Kaitlyn Pan which are made of microsuede and have many great 5 star customer reviews. They come in a slim fit and are also available in a flat version (aka “Lowland” dupe).